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Thursday, July 31, 2014

How to Paint Velvet Chairs with Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan

We do a lot of custom paint jobs at Maison Decor.
One of the current projects in house is a pair of Victorian chairs
with velvet upholstery.  Velvet wears like iron, its pretty hard to wear it out
and often you will find pieces in great condition, but you just don't like the color.
These chairs belonged to a young couple who inherited them from a grandparent
and they plan to use them in their dining room at the ends of the table.
However they wanted a color that went with their decor, and thats where we 
stepped in....with our Annie Sloan paint brushes and Chalk Paint!
 Lightly mist the surface of the upholstery with water, then paint in your choice
of color.  These chairs were going from chartreuse green to Napoleonic Blue.
We recommend lightly dipping your brush into a cup of water, then straight into
the paint can, then onto the surface of the fabric. It should take two or three coats doing
it this way, so as not to overburden the fabric with thick layer of paint.
This will help reduce any cracking that a heavy layer of paint could produce.
Velvet is a lot trickier than regular fabric, as it has a nap.  So work your paintbrush
with the direction with the nap, so it lays down.  
 In this photo you can see the first coat has been applied to the chair on the left.
Let the coat totally dry out, then lightly sand 
in the direction with the nap, using #500 grit 
sandpaper.  Then it is time to do the second coat.
This photo shows the second coat has been applied.  
The color is richer and there is none of the
green color showing through anymore.
  If there is, do another layer, let dry and then sand again.
 After the paint is all dried, and you have sanded the surface 
very lightly with #500 grit to make it nice and soft to the touch, 
its time to wax it!  Yes~you will wax your fabric. 
 But this is going to be a little bit different than waxing a piece of furniture. 
 You will want to make a 50/50 blend of wax and mineral spirits
 so it is light and will not overburden the fabric.
Using a plastic wine cup, I mix it up by eye, and then spread 
it using one of our wax brushes.
Just rub it all over the fabric, wiping off the excess with a clean lint free cloth. 
 Don't leave any excess wax on the surface of the fabric, work it in,
 and wipe it back, one section at a time. 
 It will leave the fabric looking and feeling like leather!
Here are the pair of chairs,
 all set to take their place at the head of the table!
Looking quite marvelous, and oh so much
 less expensive than a trip to the upholsterer!
Thats why I love to call Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan:
"Upholstery in a Can".
You can sit on it after the wax cures, 
and you will not have paint or wax coming off on your behind. 
 I know, as I have been sitting on my waxed dining room chairs for 
over a year now.   Its true, Annie's paint is really special.




Photobucket

6 comments:

  1. Hi Amy, I've read not to wax velvet, velour and pile patterned chairs. How are those chairs holding up? I have a swivel skirted club chair I plan to paint Old White- ASCP. It has raised velvet flowers on fabric so I am reluctant to wax it! Any thoughts!
    Curious, Kelly

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  2. Hello, I have also read not to wax velvet or velour. I have painted my velour cushions for suite of furniture and have no idea what to finish it off with. Can you tell me how your chairs are doing? I love to know if the wax/mineral spirits are holding up. Thanks so much! Frances

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  3. I just saw this done on Flea Market Flip using velet chair and chalk paint last night! No mention of wax and mineral spirits but it makes sense you need something to cure the paint to stay on the fabric! I will try on a remnant first!

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  4. Hi Amy. My question is whether the velvet still looks, well... Like velvet, or does it look more leathery? It's difficult to see whether the luxurious feel one expects from velvet is still there. Would appreciate your advice. Thank you! Sue ~ The World of Suzy Homemaker

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  5. Hi Amy, I have the same question! Does the velvet still looks like velvet, or does it look more leathery? And how many paint would I have to use for a velvet (Baroque) 70's sofa?

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  6. I just recently painted velour and am considering sealing it. I’ve read over and over not to wax velour. Could you please share how the fabric turned out using the wax and mineral spirits mix? Are they soft or did it stiffen the fabric? How are they holding up?

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